Hydrologic Technician Certification Application Process

Requirements for Certification

Hydrologic Technicians at all levels work closely with Project Professionals, usually a certified Professional Hydrologist, a Professional Engineer, or Professional Hydrogeologist in planning and conducting their project activities. The value of the Hydrologic Technician to the hydrology profession is demonstrated everyday as they collect data in all weather conditions and environments, ensure representative procedures are used, ensure the proper collection of more uniform and reliable data, and follow proper quality assurance procedures.

Individual applicants who have one year practical experience under the supervision of a professional hydrologist or senior level hydrologic technician, or have an Associate or Bachelor of Science degree with a minimum of 12 hours of water related coursework will qualify for certification under level one of the Hydrologic Technician Certification Program. Individuals with progressively more experience and education can qualify for additional levels of certification within the specific fields of surface-water, ground-water, and water quality. More specific information about this program can be found here.

Education:Level I—no educational requirement with experience; Level II—must have at least 12 continuing education credits, coursework, or training certificates that show progressive learning in the area of field hydrology; Level III—must have 24 continuing education credits, coursework, or training certificates that show progressive learning in the area of field hydrology. Education will be subjectively reviewed by the board of registration for content related to the area of field hydrology. Training in first aid, boat and water safety, and HAZWOPER count toward the total requirement.

Experience:Level I—one year practical experience under the supervision of a professional hydrologist or senior-level hydrologic technician; Level II—five years of practical experience under the supervision of a professional hydrologist or senior-level hydrologic technician; Level III—twelve years of practical experience under the supervision of a professional hydrologist or senior-level hydrologic technician.

Examination: All Levels of certification must pass a 100 question multiple choice test with a minimum score of 70%.

Letters of Reference: All applicants are required to submit with their application, or have sent separately, at least three letters from supervisors and peers in the industry that can validate their qualifications for the specified Level of certification.

The following flow chart shows how your application will proceed through the process. If anything is missing in your application, the Executive Director will notify you prior to sending it onto the Board of Registration for review and recommendation. Ultimately, the Executive Committee decides the outcome of the application based on the recommendation from the Board of Registration. When the Executive Director contacts you with the outcome of your application, you may fall into one of the following categories:

Approved for certification, examinations waived;

Approved for certification pending successful completion of the examination; or